Social networking on company time increases productivity - apparently

The research centres on a pan-European survey commissioned by AT&T and carried out by Dynamic Markets and analyses the responses of 2,500 personnel employed in various organisations in five European countries - Belgium, France, Germany, the Netherlands and the UK.

It makes fascinating reading not least because it seems some businesses, rather than banning staff from accessing social networking sites during office hours on pain of disciplinary proceedings and even dismissal, are embracing the use of the tools in the workplace and, as a result are seeing significant increases in corporate efficiency.

The study reveals that 74 per cent of European employees believe that real benefits accrue from using social networking sites and online communities in the workplace, 65 per cent say having unfettered access to such sites makes them more efficient and 46 per cent say the environment fosters creativity and innovative thinking.

Other findings are that 38 per cent of respondents say accessing social networking sites increases their knowledge as individuals and provides access to a huge range of potential solutions to problems.

What's more, 36 per cent say that the ability of these sites to harness and direct the collective knowledge of employees, customers and suppliers can only be good for the enterprise and 32 per cent cite social networking's ability to stimulate team building and bonding and better internal collaboration.

Now, you might think that these responses are indicative of little more than a desire by staff to legitimise their web wanderings whilst on duty, but, apparently, you'd be wrong.

The majority of European workers (65 per cent, in fact) report that their employers have accepted  social networking as part and parcel of daily commercial life.